very quick note today as have been at it all day (working!) ... a note on the benefits of Turmeric:
a simply amazing anti inflammatory when treating inside and out...and yes, i have tested it several times on un removable splinters found on both self and himself....simply blend a teaspoon of the wonder spice with olive oil and lavender oil and apply...wrap in cling film.  The pain will leave very quickly and the inflammation will dissipate soon enough to surprise you.....give it a go!...warning...skin will be tinted yellow for a day or so!...its worth it.

continuing my quest for a cure for itchy eyes....I have also been blinking mad!! The theory (I love a good theory) is that as we age we blink far less than when we are younger. Blinking encourages the flow of natural oils from the tiny outlets around the eye rim and among the lashes, so when we blink less our eye are less lubricated.  Ive been using my blinking therapy 20 times every morning and night in bed (he hasn't left me yet!) and I really think it contributes to the fact that my eyes are better......give it a try? whats to loose. xxx

New on the eye treatments I have been testing....I read that hot compress helps to relieve dry eyes: theory is that the tiny sebum glands around the eye can become blocked by dry skin in the winter and because of irritation from eye make up or blepheritis (a common eye condition) So...using a hot compress warms the skin and allows the natural oils to flow from the sebum glands, thereby soothing and moisturising the lashes and sensitive eye area naturally.  I have been using this method for a couple of weeks and can report that it works brilliantly!   Its necessary to use water as hot as you can comfortably bear and initially to repeat three times a day...I've cut down to twice a day now and my eyes are pretty much back to normal.
​Hope this is of use to anyone suffering from dry eyes this winter **

Anyone suffering, as I do, with dry & itchy eyes in the winter weather?  I'm testing out (in my witchy way) the benefits of different herb tinctures to treat this problem instead of using bicarbonate of soda, as had been suggested to bathe my eyes...too harsh me thinks!
I have made a chamomile and green tea eye bath. Chamomile & Green Tea are both anti inflammatory and super soothing, just soak a few of the herbs in boiled water and leave to cool, then sit with cotton pads steeped in the liquid for as long as you can manage (without someone suggesting you do something...like wash up, errands, hoovering, e mails..bla bla) and feel the soothing power of plants!
​Watch this space for results.....actually after just one day my eyes feel tons fresher and are NOT itchy.

sooo windy out there! If you're spending time outside (fresh air and light is invaluable this time of year )
then make sure your skin is protected from the cold winds to prevent
broken capillaries and permanently rosy cheeks.
Moisturise well, use your richest and most emollient creams to act as a barrier. (Our Rose Renew Balm is perfect)
Take care of your skin 😉

Its certainly been a busy year for ethica skincare so far!  We hope you don't mind our little bit of trumpet blowing!...but we are proud of our natural, honest skincare.   We have been refining our packaging so that it is as user friendly and practical as it can be for our lovely customers so, some of our cleansers are now in recycled pet plastic with pumps so there is little waste. Our lip balm tins are flatter and easier to open and our soy massage candles are now packaged in glass containers with lids to keep the fragrance fresh.
We also have created two new baby brands for clients (natural and ethical of course) these are 'Samphire' for the fabulous Thornham Deli and Boldero & Filby Skincare for THE most gorgeous hair company in Kings Lynn...we welcome their partnership in these projects.

Watch this space for more news from ethica!

What a brilliant day yesterday! harvesting willow ready for beautiful living willow domes and teepees, the sun shone, the fire crackled and the chilli was steaming!
Thanks to our lovely helpers.
You can order Willow domes or archways, teepees or living hedges to be installed in your own garden by us ( it takes about a day) or as kits for you to make with your kids. The kits come with full, step by step instructions and are lots of fun to build. you then watch the dome begin to grow and weave the growing stems back in to make a beautiful organic and ever changing garden feature that you family & friends will love.

If anyone out there is looking for inspiration...or looking for inner peace...or outer peace watch 'wild' a movie about a young woman on the Pacific Crest Trail in the US staring Reese Witherspoon....we loved it. What a challenge!

1000 miles of adventure n challenge. 'Tracks' is of a similar vein but in Australia.

True stories about courageous and difficult journeys.......now where are my walking boots and thick sox.

Central heating, blow drying, processing and particularly straightening  your hair can dry it out and damage the cuticle (nice smooth, nourished cuticles = shiny manageable hair) So here is a lovely winter hair treatment to while away the dark evenings in useful pampering:

1. pure coconut oil....sooooo nourishing and not greasy so good for even fine and frizzy hair (particularly so) Just massage a small blob into your hair and scalp, wrap up in a warm damp towel and steam for half an hour (or, if you sleep alone or your other half is used to such things, a shower cap over night in bed) and then shampoo and condition in the morning as normal....hey presto!! super shiny and conditioned hair.

you could warm the oil a little first and customise your treatment to your own needs with essential oils?

lavender...soothing and will help you to snooze if its an overnighter
rosemary....increased circulation so v. good for fine hair
chamomile....soothing for irritated scalps

the world is your lobster...as they say.....somewhere?